Louisiana, Belize State Partnership plans for the future

By Spc. Duncan Foote, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

New Orleans, La. – The Louisiana National Guard hosted members of the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard to discuss operational support plans for the upcoming years in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 7-11.

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the State Partnership Program between the LANG and the Belize Defence Force. The partnership between Louisiana and Belize was established in 1996, and the two countries have since participated in nearly 300 SPP events.

“This meeting gave all parties the opportunity to discuss and plan future objectives, activities, and events that we want to develop for future years, as well as validate and confirm anything that is scheduled for this fiscal year,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Allen West, director of the SPP.

In attendance was Rear Adm. Johnnie Boreland, Chief of Defence, Ministry of National Defence and Border Security. “We have a very precise program here,” said Boreland. “The Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard continue to benefit from everything that we do here.”

The SPP is a National Guard Bureau initiative to foster mutual interests and establish habitual long-term relationships between the United States and its partner nations. The program currently consists of 88 partnerships with 100 nations around the globe.